Millennials are new minimalists who value clean space. Closed, covered storage space in the laundry room and in bathrooms is important. Extra storage in stairwells and hidden places dedicated to technology charging ports, routers, and cords are bonuses that will “wow” your millennial clients.

Open, floating shelving in the kitchen design allows for function and art design to blend. Millennials won’t be storing an endless supply of plastic containers and lids in the kitchen cabinets or a dozen floral vases crammed in an under sink cabinet. Instead they will use the open shelving space to showcase a beautiful bowl or serving dish set or use it to store a clean line of drinking glasses. For the millennial, clutter-free space is practical and beautiful. Building spaces that enhance open lines and clear views will excite your young clients.

Millennials are generally drawn to the industrial finishes of metal features and weathered wood largely popularized by reality TV shows. Cabinet hardware is an eye-catching feature blending form and function for millennials. Giving them choices in a newly purchased condo or spec house is key. Instead of their parents’ beige or warm-tone color schemes, millennials are drawn to more gray finishes with a pop of color on an accent wall—offering a customized feature in a master bedroom or den to the client.

Low Maintenance

Many millennial households include two career-minded professionals who may or may not have children. Either way their weekends are spent in recreation—either traveling and socializing or spending time at the ballfield or in the backyard with the kids. Millennials do not want to spend their down time repairing aging appliances, re-tiling bathrooms, or pruning perennials. For those looking at older properties, millennials primarily want a house that is already renovated. They want the kitchen and bathrooms already updated with timeless finishes and surfaces.

Millennials know that they may move several times in their working careers, so they see their home as somewhere to live and enjoy life rather than as a status symbol. That’s why a finished home with low maintenance finishes is important. Porcelain floors that resemble wood finishes or faux wood floors are appealing options to offer millennials. With 36 percent of millennials being pet owners, most do not want carpet at all. Brick or siding exteriors are favorable to something that will require painting or replacing every 5-10 years.

Consider collaboration with a landscape contractor to offer beautiful curb appeal that is low maintenance for the new homeowner. Instead of a deck that requires staining and even replacing, perhaps a paver patio for extended outdoor living space would appeal to the millennials seeking a backyard oasis that does not involve them wielding a paint brush on their free Saturday.

To build an ongoing relationship with millennials who often live where their jobs are instead of in their hometowns near their parents, consider offering a bi-yearly handyman service as a professional builder. Think of all the tasks around a home that require handyman skills from time to time. Offering a menu of repairs to millennials such as gutter cleanout, threshold repair, cathedral ceiling lightbulb replacement, and more could yield a few hours’ work in your slow season while keeping your name in front of the millennial who may eventually want to finish their bonus room, construct an outdoor room, or build a new home.